Il y a une quinzaine de jours, je vous soumettais un 1er projet d'itinéraire pour l'été 2013. Depuis, suite à vos remarques, à la lecture de plusieurs carnets de voyage supplémentaire et une étude approfondie de ouestusa et roadtrippin, on se pose d'autres questions sur lesquelles, j'en suis sûre, vous aurez certainement des commentaires très pertinents à faire 😉.
Tout part d'une réflexion simple mais qui ouvre de nouveaux horizons: "étant donné qu'on est sur place, pourquoi ne pas rajouter 3 nuits ?" soit 26 au total (ce qui nous laisse juste sous les 4 semaines de congés) 😛 Le but étant, non pas d'approfondir les sites ou de ralentir le rythme qui nous convenait bien en terme de km et temps de route, mais de diversifier les paysages découverts.
Je vous rappelle juste le début de mon itinéraire puisque c'est là que ça changerait:
1ère idée: née d'une réflexion de Itat 😉 et qui a fait son petit chemin dans ma tête.
J1 arrivée Phoenix, nuit Phoenix
J2 Phoenix-Sedona, nuit Sedona :1 ou 2 balades West fork oak creek ou devil's bridge qui semblent bien tentante!
J3 Sedona-Grand canyon, nuit GC via route 89A jusqu'à Flagstaff puis route normale.
Comme on devrait être levés tôt, ça laisse le temps de profiter, non ? Cet arrêt de 24h à Sedona vaut-il le coup ?
2ème idée: née de moi toute seule et de mes lectures assidues
J6 Monument-valley-Mesa Verde-Durango, nuit Durango: départ tôt, arrivée vers Mesa Verde fin de matinée, visite du site et départ pour Durango (1h30 de route en fin d'après-midi)
J7 Durango-Ouray, nuit Ouray via Silverton et million dollar road: balade dans Durango, Silverton, Yankee girl mine, + eventuellement cascade à Ouray
J8 Ouray-Moab, nuit Moab via Montrose (1h30 de route) visite de black canyon (3-4h), route via Grand jonction, Fruita, puis UT128, en s'arrangeant pour y être vers 16 ou 17h, jusqu'à Moab (selon les conseils de Jean 😉)
Je sais qu'on risque de ne pas pouvoir faire de visite guidée à Mesa Verde le jour même faute de place (juillet 😕) si jamais balcony house est dispo, on sautera dessus, sinon, je prévois de faire juste Spruce tree house et Mesa Top loop road. Est-ce que cela permet déjà une bonne appréhension du site ?
La nuit à Durango est prévue avec une arrière pensée : faire le trajet aller en train (tôt le matin) pendant que l'heureux élu qui sera tiré au sort 😕 conduira la voiture jusqu'à Silverton. Cela évite de perdre toute une journée MAIS, je n'ai pas l'impression qu'ils vendent des billets de train juste aller ET, je ne suis pas complètement certaine que cette virée fort touristique vaille le détour... des avis ?
Pour le reste de la journée ce serait selon le temps (h, min, s) et ... le temps (nuage, orages...) bien sûr 😛
Il me semble que le J8 colle, au niveau timing, correct ? et que black canyon est très différent des red rocks ...
Encore une question, qui n'a rien à voir avec mes modifications ci-dessus:
Bien plus tard dans mon itinéraire, nous faisons Bryce Canyon-Las vegas, ayant supprimé la nuit à Zion après discussion avec Bastinj (on n'est pas des grands randonneurs😊). Mon idée est de partir tôt de Bryce, s'arrêter à Zion juste pour faire canyon overlook trail et se débrouiller pour être en fin PM à valley of fire (cad, je ne sais pas du tout à quelle heure) y passer environ 2h avant de rejoindre Las Vegas plus tard. Ce petit parc me fait de l'oeil depuis un moment mais je ne savais pas comment l'intégrer sans y être en milieu de journée. Est-ce faisable comme ça ? D'autant que je crois que l'on gagne 1h sur le trajet. On pourrait moduler l'arrêt à Zion et le trajet ensuite pour s'y trouver au bon moment mais QUAND ???
Je ne dirais pas que la nuit porte conseil.... mais tu as fait du bon boulot !!!
Pour confirmer Itat= Oui pour Sedona !
J6 faire un timing précis, car Mesa Verde (la Spuce Tree House et superbe- mais c'est tout au bout de la route en cul de sac) demande du temps d'accès et de visite (n'oublie pas le museum à côté).
J7 idem, faire un timing précis (dans le genre de mes Outlook...) pour déterminer la nuit à Ouray (plus typique) ou Montrose.
because en J8, possibilité de passer à Colorado NM (à l'Ouest de Grand Junction) après Black Canyon gunnisson (Qui vaut largement le coup***).
L'idée du train/voiture solo et pertinente, mais tu vas dépendre de SON horaire, qui risque de rendre ton timing infaisable (à vérifier).
Merci pour ta réponse Jean, effectivement, il faut que je bosse les timing, c'est le plus difficile je trouve 😠
Pour le train de Durango, les 1ers départs sont à 8h et 9h soit une arrivée à Silverton vers midi. Il reste la balade dans Silverton (+/- 1h), la route jusqu'à Ouray (1h30 je crois) et si possible, Yankee girl mine mais là je sèche.
C'est pour ça que j'ai mis l'étape à Ouray (et aussi parce que c'est plus joli que Montrose)
Pour le J8, je ne pensais pas pouvoir faire Colorado NM et Black Canyon et l'UT128 en prenant mon temps dans la même journée ???
Donc, globalement, pas trop mauvaises mes idées de prolongation ...
PS Je sais, je suis un peu lente dans mes réflexions mais j'ai le temps ... c'est pour 2013. Je savoure, c'est comme pour les glaces !😏😉
@+
Laure
Oui Sedona vaut le coup.... Par contre, la balade West Fork Oak Creek n'est pas la plus dépaysante. Restez plutôt randonner aux environs de Sedona (voir ouestusa.fr)
Pour Mesa Verde: " je prévois de faire juste Spruce tree house et Mesa Top loop road. Est-ce que cela permet déjà une bonne appréhension du site ?"
Je dirais que oui, même sans faire les balades guidées des ruines, ce que vs prévoyez est déjà TB.
Balcony House et Cliff Palace sont des ruines semblables à celle de la Spruce Tree House mais elles sont plus grandes.
" nous faisons Bryce Canyon-Las vegas, ayant supprimé la nuit à Zion ...Mon idée est de partir tôt de Bryce, s'arrêter à Zion juste pour faire canyon overlook trail et se débrouiller pour être en fin PM à valley of fire "
Si vs partez tôt de Bryce et qu'à Zion, vs ne faites que la balade Canyon Overlook Trail (qui ne dure que +/-1h) , vs allez forcément arriver trop tôt à Valley of Fire, puisqu'il n'y a que +/- 4h de route de Bryce à l'entrée de Valley of Fire. Donc, si vs ne voulez pas arriver à Valley of Fire avant 16 h, soit vs quittez Bryce plus tard (ou vs faites un arrêt à Red Canyon), soit vs restez plus longtemps à Zion ou ailleurs sur la route (Snow Canyon SP ou Red Cliffs... voir ouestusa)
Ouest USA 2009 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2800143#2800143
5ème trip USA, 09/2013 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6186946#6186946
Bonjour, votre remarque au sujet du Colorado m'interpelle.
J'ai parcouru une partie du Colorado l'été dernier (au tout début de l'automne en fait), la région de Durango, Ouray, Ridgway, Silverton... et suis "montée" jusqu'au Colorado National Monument (via un détour par Black Canyon of the Gunnison).
Je prépare un 1er voyage pour juillet 2013 et je me proposais de joindre Monument Valley à Moab en faisant:
- J1: Monument valley - Mesa Verde, visite libre de Mesa verde en pm nuit à Durango
- J2: Durango-Silverton à 3, le 4ème amenant la voiture à Silverton, visite de Silverton, Million dollar road, peut-être Yankee girl mine, Ouray, Nuit à Montrose.
- J3: Visite de Black canyon le matin et route vers Moab en passant par Cedaredge et Grand Mesa scenic drive, nuit Moab
Je trouve qu'il y a assez peu de commentaires sur cette région sur le forum (je n'ai trouvé que Jean mais il a pris la route de la vallée avec son RV) et dans les guides aussi d'ailleurs donc ... votre avis m'intéresse au plus haut point 😉Qu'avez-vous pensé de la balade en train ? J'hésite car pour ne pas perdre de temps et faire l'aller-retour Durango/ Silverton, il faudra que l'un de nous 4 se "sacrifie" et conduise sur ce trajet. Cela vaut-il vraiment le coup et le coût ??? Sinon, on ne ferait que la route.Avez-vous vu la Yankee girl mine ? Avis ? ou peut-être une autre à visiter sur le chemin d'Ouray ?Enfin, grosse interrogation sur Grand Mesa scenic drive. Le guide du routard ne la mentionne même pas, le Michelin la dit incontournable (rien sur ouest USA ou roadtrippin) mais ça fait quand même un sacré détour. Quel est, là encore votre avis ?Mon but, en faisant cette escapade, est de varier les paysages. Ensuite, nous continuons sur un circuit plus classique avec arches, canyonland, Capitol reef, bryce ... Avant, nous aurons fait Grand canyon et lac powell. Merci d'avance pour vos commentaires et impressions.
@+
Laure
Hello Laure,
Je te réponds ici même, ça me semble mieux que dans le topic de quelqu'un d'autre. Accessoirement, j'ai ainsi une vision plus globale de ton itinéraire.
Pour le J-3 et la Grand Mesa Scenic Byway, je ne dis rien, je ne connais pas.
Pour le J-1, c'est jouable en effet, cf. les conseils donnés plus haut.
Pour le J-2, Yankee girl mine, pas vu pour ma part, on avait été à Animas Forks et fait la visite de la Old Hundred Mine.
Pour le train... on était un peu dans le même cas que toi car on ne voulait pas utiliser une journée entière pour ce train, d'autant plus que c'était deux fois le même trajet. On avait donc réservé un pack chez Outlaw Rivers & Jeep Tours à Durango avec visite de villes fantômes le matin en jeep et retour en train depuis Silverton jusqu'à Durango. Prix pas trop excessif, parfait pour nous. Manque de chance, 1 mois avant le départ, ils ont annulé (le Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad avait entre temps conclu un contrat d'exclusité avec une autre société et toutes les autres ne pouvaient plus proposer ce pack). Je suis donc passée par cette autre société (Mild to Wild), ça nous a coûté nettement plus cher (300 $ à deux), et ça a bouleversé notre itinéraire (on a dû faire un aller-retour, décaller certains hôtels...) car comme de bien entendu il n'y avait pas de place le jour où on voulait faire ce tour. Mais comme on avait un peu de marge dans l'itinéraire, rien de bien méchant.
Du coup, on a fait ça :
01 - Monticello > arrivée à Mesa Verde à 10 h 00 le matin et visite > nuit dans le parc
02 - Fin de visite de Mesa Verde jusque vers 11 h 00 > Dolores, Rico, Ridgway > et là on est parti à la recherche et à la découverte de lieux de tournages de films de John Wayne jusqu'au soir > nuit à Ouray
03 - Ouray > Million Dollar Hwy > Silverton > Old Hundred Mine > Durango
04 - Tour en jeep avec notre guide dans les montagnes autour de Silverton, visite de Animas Forks, retour en train à Durango et super soirée au Diamond Belle Saloon avec piano de bastringue et serveuses en guêpières et porte-jarretelles ! 😎
05 - Durango > Million Dollar Hwy (oui, encore, forcément !!!, mais cette fois plus rapidement ! 😄) > Black Canyon of the Gunnison > nuit à Fruita
06 - Fruita > Colorado National Monument tôt le matin jusqu'à midi > longue route jusqu'à Denver avec un super arrêt Georgetown et arrivée dans la soirée à Denver.
Ce J-04 nous a coûté plus cher que prévu mais aujourd'hui on ne regrette pas d'avoir cassé notre porte-monnaie. Guide excellent et très sympa. Nous étions avec 2 autres couples d'américains absolument adorables, le journée fut vraiment très joviale. Des journées guidées comme celle-ci, j'en veux bien tous les jours.
Quant au train, ce fut un des moments forts du voyage. Nous avions réservé des places dans un wagon ouvert (on a tenté le coup et on a bien fait, météo sublime !), du côté gauche (mieux dans le sens du retour). On a vécu des moments très forts. Si nous avions dû faire l'aller-retour en train ça aurait été nettement trop long. 🤪
Si tous les cons volaient, il ferait nuit. (Frédéric Dard)
Merci pour toutes ces précisions !
Cela m'ouvre ENCORE de nouveaux horizons !
Je vais déjà regarder chez Mild to Wild pour voir un peu ce qu'ils proposent ...
Ensuite, viendra l'heure des choix 😐
Bonne soirée !
Je ne peux pas m'empécher: si, lors de recherche, si on tombe sur des résultat datant de 2008 et avant, on lira souvent sur des messages qui disent " Page?…
J'ai besoin de savoir si les prix sont moins élevés lorsque l'on réserve nos billets d'avion à la dernière minute, (enfin 1 mois avant maximum..)? Car je dois…
Est-ce que quelqu'un connaît un site internet par lequel on peut suivre l'évolution des feux qui sévissent actuellement en Californie? Car on part samedi 19…
J'envisage de partir en mars 2008 sur la cote ouest des Etats Unis.Je ne connaitrai précisemment que mes dates de voyage début aout. Je suis en pleine…
Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?
We're leaving at the end of June and will be driving the route between Buffalo and Cody. We’ve already booked our accommodations and a rodeo in Cody, but during the day, we’ll be driving between the two and I’m unsure about the itinerary.
Which route do you think is the most pleasant, interesting, or scenic between:
- The northern route via Highway 14 with Sheridan, Lowell, etc.
- The southern route with Highways 16/20/14, passing by Loaf Mountain Overlook, Powder River Pass, Ten Sleep Canyon...
We’ll be in a car, so we should be able to drive on any road.
Thanks for your input!
I’m almost done planning our September road trip. After our 3-night visit to Sequoia, we’ll have a stopover night in Coalinga (to break up the drive). We’ll be staying two nights in Monterey and would like to stop along the way to visit one side of Pinnacles National Park. We’re torn between the West entrance and the East entrance, and we’d like to do a short hike of no more than 2 hours since we don’t want to arrive too late in Monterey.
This park is split into two distinct zones with no connection between them, and the mileage from Coalinga to Monterey is pretty much the same for both. Which area do you recommend visiting—east or west? And which route is the most scenic?
I’ve spotted two short hikes:
- East: Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
- West: Balconies Cliffs Cave Loop
Has anyone been there, or do you have another hike to suggest?
Thanks in advance, and have a great afternoon!
Marcalamar 🙂
After our first trip as a young couple to the West in 2007 (yes, that doesn’t make us any younger!), we’re planning to go back in 2028, but this time as a family of four! (We have two boys who’ll be 5½ and 13 years old in the summer of 2028.)
Our plan is to combine a few big cities (SF and LA, maybe San Diego) with national parks and state parks, mostly!
Ideally, we’d like to leave at the end of June and head back to France around July 19–20, so we can enjoy the first week of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Since we already did the "loop" in 2007, there are must-see places we absolutely want to revisit—and especially share with our kids: Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and above all, the Grand Canyon, which is still the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on Earth!
On the other hand, some places didn’t leave a big impression on us for various reasons, so we’re not making them a priority: Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, for example.
We’re planning ahead, but might as well be smart about it😏
Do you have any tips for a fun and doable itinerary over about 20–25 days with kids, without rushing?
Hi everyone! 🙂
Just a quick question about King Canyon and Sequoia National Park.
Before our night in Miramonte, we plan to visit King Canyon. The next stop will be two nights in Three Rivers to explore Sequoia National Park. I wanted to go all the way to Roaring River Falls on the King Canyon Scenic Byway and then turn back to head to Miramonte. Since we’re coming from Oakhurst, Google Maps says it’s 300 km and 5 hours of driving. Since we also want to hike to see the sequoias (Big Stump Area and Grand Grove) before tackling the King Canyon Scenic Byway, the timing’s going to be tight. How far do you recommend going before turning back to miss as few points of interest as possible on the King Canyon Scenic Byway? Thanks for your advice, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone!
After years of hoping, waiting, planning, then changing, saving, and searching for the best possible route... we're FINALLY off this summer for a 5-week road trip in the West.
I had planned a trip to Colorado in 2021 but canceled due to COVID, so with time passing and my eldest’s high school graduation approaching fast, I figured it was now or never!
Anyway, the itinerary has been modified and extended to please everyone (I’m no longer the only one making decisions!!)
Here’s our final route:
Day 1 - 7/12/2026 - Brussels / Los Angeles
Day 2 - 7/13/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 3 - 7/14/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 4 - 7/15/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - 7/16/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - 7/17/2026 - Los Angeles / Kingman
Day 7 - 7/18/2026 - Kingman / Grand Canyon
Day 8 - 7/19/2026 - Grand Canyon / Page
Day 9 - 7/20/2026 - Page
Day 10 - 7/21/2026 - Page / Monument Valley
Day 11 - 7/22/2026 - Monument Valley / Durango
Day 12 - 7/23/2026 - Durango
Day 13 - 7/24/2026 - Durango
Day 14 - 7/25/2026 - Durango
Day 15 - 7/26/2026 - Durango / Glenwood Springs
Day 16 - 7/27/2026 - Glenwood Springs
Day 17 - 7/28/2026 - Glenwood Springs / Moab
Day 18 - 7/29/2026 - Moab
Day 19 - 7/30/2026 - Moab
Day 20 - 7/31/2026 - Moab
Day 21 - 8/1/2026 - Moab
Day 22 - 8/2/2026 - Moab / Vernal
Day 23 - 8/3/2026 - Vernal / Grand Teton
Day 24 - 8/4/2026 - Grand Teton
Day 25 - 8/5/2026 - Grand Teton / Cody
Day 26 - 8/6/2026 - Cody / Yellowstone
Day 27 - 8/7/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 28 - 8/8/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 29 - 8/9/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 30 - 8/10/2026 - Yellowstone / Salt Lake City
Day 31 - 8/11/2026 - Salt Lake City / Bryce Canyon
Day 32 - 8/12/2026 - Bryce Canyon / Zion
Day 33 - 8/13/2026 - Zion
Day 34 - 8/14/2026 - Zion
Day 35 - 8/15/2026 - Zion / Las Vegas
Day 36 - 8/16/2026 - Las Vegas
Day 37 - 8/17/2026 - Las Vegas / Los Angeles
Day 38 - 8/18/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 39 - 8/19/2026 - Los Angeles / Brussels
Day 40 - 8/20/2026 - Brussels / Home
We’ll be alternating between house swaps, motels, and campgrounds. I’ve booked all the accommodations (except the campground at Bryce since sunset bookings open only 14 days in advance) and the first activities, as well as the most touristy ones.
I’m currently putting together my day-by-day roadbook and having some trouble planning certain days, like in LA or Las Vegas. Choosing hikes isn’t easy either—it’s tough to decide!
We’re really excited but could definitely use your help with choices and optimizations!!
Hello.
I’d like to travel along I-15N from San Diego to Las Vegas with my mom, who’s 67. We’ve explored Northern California and the California Coast over the past two years and now want to continue through the desert.
There are several attractions along the way:
- Mormon Rocks
- Desert Discovery Center and visit the Old Woman meteorite
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave Desert
- Mojave National Preserve
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Silverwood Lake
My mom has back issues that prevent her from hiking or walking on trails with elevation changes. Is it possible to visit these places by car, or are the routes flat enough?
I’d love for her to experience the desert with an itinerary adapted to her condition. I’m also open to other points of interest that aren’t mentioned. We have 3-4 days for the trip, so we’re not in a rush—just want to explore.
I’d love to take a road trip and visit Nova Scotia. I’d appreciate some info on the best cities to see and the most interesting spots. The trip should last about 10 to 15 days, staying in hotels or motels. Thanks in advance!
We’re being relocated to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
We’ll be taking the flight from Nantes to Montreal and then from Montreal to Saint Pierre.
Could you recommend a hotel near the departure terminal that allows dogs?
Hi,
My 16-year-old son is flying to Grand Rapids with other kids his age. There’s a layover in Detroit. There’s no unaccompanied minor service available. Is it pretty easy to navigate Detroit Airport to catch the connecting flight to Grand Rapids (domestic flight)? There are several of them who speak English well.
Thanks for your replies,
Good evening, everyone! 🙂
Just a few last questions to wrap up our Lake Tahoe visit plans.
**Parking:**
We’d like to walk to Eagle Falls and then Eagle Lake. I’ve spotted two parking lots that seem close to each other and give access to the trailhead. Where and how do we pay for entry to Emerald Bay State Park and Inspiration Point?
**Viewpoints on the East Side:**
Are most of the viewpoints (Balancing Rock, Granite Cave, Bonsai Rock, etc.) right by the road, or do you have to hike to reach them?
**Donner Memorial State Park:**
Is it worth making a detour to Truckee to visit this park and the Truckee historic downtown?
Hi there. I'm shocked by the price of the Upper Antelope Canyon tour—$175 for less than an hour… You might say, "if you can’t afford it…" But the real question is whether it’s really worth it, because $350 for two makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off. For those who’ve done both Lower and Upper, can you tell me if the price difference is really justified? Thanks
Hi everyone! 🙂
As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th.
Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us.
We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.
Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Davis – overnight stop
Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen)
Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes
Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike
Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes)
Day 6: South Lake Tahoe
Day 7: South Lake Tahoe
Day 8: Mammoth Lake
Day 9: Mammoth Lake
Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road
Day 11: El Portal
Day 12: El Portal
Day 13: Oakhurst
Day 14: Miramonte
Day 15: Three Rivers
Day 16: Three Rivers
Day 17: Coalinga
Day 18: Monterey
Day 19: Monterey
Day 20: San Francisco
Day 21: San Francisco
Day 22: Departure
For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned:
Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2)
Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3)
Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4)
Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)
I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV?
Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?
That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
I’m a total USA addict. I’ve already done several road trips, including the East Coast and West Coast.
I’m here today because I’m planning to go back for another road trip on the West Coast. Possibly with one of my sisters and a couple of friends. It’s still just a plan for now, but I’m working on an itinerary in the meantime. Ideally, I’d leave in 2026, but I don’t have the exact dates yet—maybe April-May or September-October.
My last trip to the West Coast was in September 2014. We went for 2 weeks, but this time it’d be 3 weeks. What made me want to go back was simply a colleague who just left today. As I’m writing this, he’s on the plane. I’m so happy for him, but now all I can think about is going back.
Since I recently went to NY, I noticed that prices have really gone up. I assume the same is true for the West Coast? For 2 people over 3 weeks, what budget should I expect? We’re the type to watch our spending and find great tips.
I think we’ll arrive in San Francisco like the first time and leave from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Thanks for advising me on the booking—should I reserve a room in the hotel or go for a cabin for the best view?
Should I get breakfast or not?
What do you think of the restaurant?
Hello, if the off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts are still around 😉, I’d love some info on tackling these trails. I’m not super familiar with the rules, risks, or what to expect—I’m looking for firsthand experience from folks who’ve done it on their own once or multiple times.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a week-long family trip to NYC in October 2026. The focus is on museums and soaking up the New York vibe. I’ve been checking Airbnb, but the prices in Manhattan are through the roof. Since I don’t know NYC well, is it "wise" to look outside Manhattan? Any neighborhoods you’d recommend?
After our first trip to the West, we’d love to go back to see other must-see spots!
The stay would be from May 11 to 20, 2026—it’s short, but hey...
M11: Lyon to Las Vegas (overnight in Vegas)
T12: Route 66 – overnight in Grand Canyon (GC)
W13: Visit GC – overnight in Page
Th14: Visit Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend – overnight in Monument Valley (MV)
F15: Visit MV – overnight in Moab
Sa16: Visit Arches / Dead Horse Point – overnight in Bryce
Su17: Visit Bryce – overnight in Zion
M18: Visit Zion / Valley of Fire – overnight in Vegas
Tu19: Return flight
What do you think? Could we add one more night somewhere? We’re not big hikers, so we’ll mostly explore the parks using shuttles.
Also, we’re all set—passports are good. Do you think one classic Visa card and one premium Visa card will be enough for coverage?
Thanks so much for your feedback, and happy holidays!
Hi North America forum crew,
Just a little post that might interest some of you:
Travelers to the United States | Photo Now Mandatory Upon Entry and Exit | La Presse
I assume many of you already know, but the America the Beautiful annual pass, which was $80, will increase to $250 starting January 1, 2026.
So if you're planning to travel before the end of December 2026, it's in your best interest to buy your pass in December 2025, since it will still cost $80 and be valid until the end of December 2026 if you purchase it in December 2025.
This price increase only applies to non-U.S. residents.
Additionally, for those who planned to visit just one park, a $100 surcharge per person will apply to access a list of 11 national parks...
For example, if there are 4 of you in a car, you’ll have to pay $35 + $400,
which comes to $435 to visit one of the 11 parks on the list (I don’t have all of them... Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.).
Total madness.
The goal is to push people who only visit one park into buying the annual pass.
Last point: free entry days are over for non-residents!
Hi everyone, I’m traveling to Los Angeles and would like to rent a vehicle at the airport. However, I have a Boursobank Ultim deferred debit card, so I’d love to know if it’s possible for those who’ve experienced this recently. Thanks for the info!
I’m planning a week in S.F. in April 2026 and I can’t figure out how to tell the cable cars—of which I understand there are three lines—apart from the trams, which I think number seven. I can’t find their individual numbers or routes anywhere.
Could someone shed some light on this for me? Thanks in advance.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2026 full of amazing travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip through the American national parks starting from Denver in June 2026.
The price of the pass is jumping from 80 € to 250 € on January 1st, 2026!!!
Is it possible to buy the pass online before the end of the year to lock in the 80 € rate? If so, where and how do I go about it?
Thanks for your tips.
Arnale
I’m planning a road trip for July 2026 in northern Florida. Could you let me know if my itinerary makes sense?
Day 1: Orlando
Day 2: Amelia Island
Day 3: Amelia Island
Day 4: Tallahassee
Day 5: Panama City Beach
Day 6: Panama City Beach (visit to Destin)
Day 7: Crystal River (stop in Cedar Key on the way)
Day 8: Crystal River
Day 9: Anna Maria (stop in Clearwater)
Day 10: Anna Maria (St. Pete)
Day 11: Anna Maria
Day 12: Orlando
Day 13: Orlando
Day 14: Orlando
Day 15: Departure
We just finished 9 days in the American West and wanted to share our experience because we had an amazing time.
I know some of you might ask, why use an agency? Honestly, we didn’t really feel like doing all the driving and planning, especially since we didn’t know the area at all. And since our English isn’t great, having French-speaking guides was a big comfort.
We found Emmanuelle and Isabelle, and wow, they were fantastic. It was just the two of us with them, so it was a truly VIP, ultra-personalized experience. They treated us like royalty from start to finish. These two live in Las Vegas and know the region like the back of their hand. They told us they’ve spent over 15 years exploring every corner of the American West, and it really shows. Their knowledge of geology, park history, and local anecdotes is just impressive. It’s nothing like someone reciting a memorized script. They answer all your questions and really adapt to what you want to see or do.
What we really loved: the vehicle was super comfortable, and the little details made a difference—like snacks and even a homemade cake! Though, to be fair, we devoured the cake right away, so that counts.
Since they know the sites inside out, they took us at the right times to avoid crowds. So we could enjoy peaceful picnics at Grand Canyon viewpoints without being packed in with 200 people. Plus, on top of the must-see spots, they showed us some hidden gems that were absolutely stunning—places we never would’ve found on our own. They’re true locals who know all the best tips.
The service was really personalized. They adapted to our pace and preferences, and we could stop whenever we wanted to take photos. It’s the luxury of being in a small private group—you’re not just a number on a big bus.
In short, we really felt like we were traveling with friends rather than professional guides. Everything’s included in the price (hotel pickup, meals, park entries, etc.), so the value for money is fair.
We loved it so much that we’re already planning to come back next year to explore other areas with them. I think we’ve caught the American West bug—it’s all we can think about, and we can’t wait to return.
If you’re looking for a French-speaking tour with real personalized service and guides who know the region like no one else, we highly recommend them. We had unforgettable moments. They also design road trips for those who don’t want a guide. And they handled our hotel reservations in Las Vegas too. If you want genuine advice from friendly locals, we’re giving them a 200% recommendation!
I’m currently looking for well-located hotels near points of interest in the cities below. I’ve found a few, but the prices are really high.
Could any of you share some great addresses in the following cities?
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- San Francisco
Also, do you have a preferred airline for domestic flights? If so, which one?
